Exercise device for improving balance

Abstract

An exercise device for improving balance, comprising a platform; a balancing element mounted to the platform so as to permit angular displacement of the balancing element relative to the platform; an adjustable angular displacement limiter for determining a limit of the angular displacement of the balancing element relative to the platform; and an adjustment access path to provide adjustment access to the limiter while the balancing element is operably mounted to the platform.

1. An exercise device for improving balance, the device comprising:
 a platform configured to receive the body of a person; 
 a balancing element comprising a curved floor contacting portion positioned at an underside of the platform and configured to contact a floor when the device is in use, wherein the balancing element causes the platform to pivot relative to the floor to bear on the floor unless the person balances on the platform to prevent the platform from bearing on the floor, the balancing element being mounted to the underside of the platform, the platform being pivotable relative to the balancing element so as to permit angular displacement of the platform with respect to the balancing element while the person balances on the platform; 
 an adjustable angular displacement limiter, coupled to the platform and operatively associated with the balancing element, such that the limiter is adjustably engageable and disengageable with the balancing element, wherein the limiter limits the angular displacement of the platform relative to the balancing element when engaged with the balancing element, and wherein the platform is freely pivotable with respect to the balancing element when the limiter is disengaged from the balancing element; and 
 an adjustment access path to provide adjustment access to the limiter while the balancing element is operably mounted to the platform; 
 whereby the device is adapted for a person to balance movement of the platform relative to the floor and simultaneous movement of the platform relative to the balancing element. 
 
     
     
       2. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the limiter is continuously adjustable. 
     
     
       3. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the limiter is mounted on a threaded shaft extending from the underside. 
     
     
       4. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the limit is adjusted by rotating the limiter to move the limiter along the shaft. 
     
     
       5. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the limiter comprises a limiting element, and an adjuster, operatively connected to the limiting element, for adjusting the position of the limiting element. 
     
     
       6. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the adjuster extends radially outward from the shaft to facilitate adjustment of the limiter. 
     
     
       7. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the adjuster is generally disc-shaped and wherein the limiting element depends from the adjuster. 
     
     
       8. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the limiting element has a substantially frusto-conical shape. 
     
     
       9. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the balancing element includes a limiter-receiving cavity and wherein the limiter is shaped to fit within said cavity such that the limit is lower when the limiter extends more deeply into the cavity end greater when the limiter extends less deeply into the cavity. 
     
     
       10. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the device includes as least two springs, and wherein the at least two springs are fixedly attached to the platform and to the balancing element to flexibly mount the balancing element to the platform. 
     
     
       11. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the limiter comprises a limiting element, and an adjuster, operatively connected to the limiting element, for adjusting the position of the limiting element. 
     
     
       12. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the cavity is shaped substantially as a parallelepiped. 
     
     
       13. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device includes as least two springs, and wherein the at least two springs are fixedly attached to the platform and to the balancing element to flexibly mount the balancing element to the platform. 
     
     
       14. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the device includes four springs, wherein the four springs are fixedly attached to the platform and to the balancing element to flexibly mount the balancing element to the platform. 
     
     
       15. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the access path comprises space adjacent the underside and adjacent the balancing element. 
     
     
       16. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the access path comprises space between the balancing element and the underside. 
     
     
       17. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the balancing element includes at least one depression formed therein, and wherein the access path comprises the depression. 
     
     
       18. An exercise device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the balancing element is mounted to the platform via at least one spring extending from the underside of the platform to the balancing element. 
     
     
       19. An exercise device for improving balance, the device comprising:
 a platform configured to receive the body of a person; 
 a balancing element positioned on an underside of the platform and configured to contact a floor when the device is in use, the platform and balancing element being sized, shaped, and/or positioned such that the balancing element causes the platform to pivot relative to the floor to bear on the floor unless the person balances on the platform to prevent the platform from bearing on the floor, the balancing element being mounted to the underside of the platform so that the platform is freely pivotable about the balancing element so as to permit free angular displacement of the platform with respect to the balancing element while the person balances on the platform; 
 an adjustable angular displacement limiter, coupled to the underside of the platform and operatively associated with the balancing element, such that the limiter is adjustably engageable and disengageable with the balancing element, wherein the limiter limits the free angular displacement of the platform relative to the balancing element, the limiter comprising a limiting element and the balancing element comprising a limiter-engaging surface, wherein the limiting element is movably coupled to the underside of the platform so as to have an adjustable position between the platform and the balancing element and is shaped to engage the limiter engaging surface such that the angular displacement of the platform relative to the balancing element is limited when the limiting element engages the limiter-engaging surface, and wherein the platform is freely pivotable relative to the balancing element when the limiting element is disengaged with the limiter-engaging surface; and 
 an adjustment access path to provide adjustment access to the limiter while the balancing element is operably mounted to the platform; 
 whereby the device is adapted for a person to balance movement of the platform relative to the floor and simultaneous movement of the platform relative to the balancing element. 
 
     
     
       20. The exercise device as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the limiter-engaging surface comprises a limiter-receiving cavity, wherein the limiting element is shaped to fit within the cavity such that the angular displacement of the platform relative to the balancing element is lower when the limiting element extends more deeply into the cavity and greater when the limiting element extends less deeply into the cavity.